AAU Alums Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
02/15/2022
AAU Alums Becky Hammon, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Alice "Cookie" Barron, and Debbie Antonelli among those inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
By: Troy MacNeill
ORLANDO, Fla. (February 15, 2022) – AAU Alums Becky Hammon, DeLisha Milton-Jones, and Alice “Cookie” Barron headline the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Hammon, Milton-Jones, and Barron will be joined in the Hall this year by Debbie Antonelli (Contributor/Announcer), Doug Bruno (Coach), Paul Sanderford (Coach), Bob Schneider (Coach), and Penny Taylor (International Player).
Becky Hammon played AAU Girls’ Basketball from 1992 to 1994 in Rapids City, South Dakota. She is being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her time as a player in the WNBA and at Colorado State.
Hammon played for Colorado State from 1995 to 1999 and finished her college career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. In the WNBA, Hammon became one of the best to play. She was named a six-time All-Star and was voted as one of the WNBA’s 15 greatest players of all-time in 2011. Since moving on from her playing days, Hammon became the assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, making her only the 2nd female coach in NBA History. She also became the first-ever female Head Coach in the NBA’s Summer League. Hammon is now the Head Coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
DeLisha Milton-Jones played AAU Girls’ Basketball in 1993. She is being inducted into the Hall for her playing career in the WNBA and at the University of Florida.
Milton-Jones had a storied career with the Gators as she was named the SEC Player of the Year in 1997. Milton-Jones was drafted 4th overall into the WNBA where she would go on to retire as the WNBA’s record-holder for games played. She would win WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 as well as bring home Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2000 and 2008. Milton-Jones is now the Head Coach for Old Dominion’s women’s basketball program.
Alice “Cookie” Barron was named to the AAU All-America team in 1957 and won 3 National AAU Championships. She is being inducted into the Hall of her remarkable success while at Wayland Baptist College.
Barron was an integral part of the Wayland Flying Queens’ success. Not only did she win 3 National AAU titles, Barron never lost a single game while at the college. An unprecedented record, Barron was undefeated with a record of 104 wins and 0 losses in her time there from 1954 to 1957. She was named Wayland’s Outstanding Woman Athlete in 1957. Since her playing career, Barron became an educator and athletics administrator and retired in 1990. Barron also contributed to the formation of the Flying Queens Alumni Association.
Debbie Antonelli, also being inducted into the Class of 2022, is a huge name not only in women’s basketball, but also in the AAU circle. She is being inducted for her contributions to women’s basketball and its overall growth.
Antonelli played college basketball at North Carolina State, but she may be better known for her 34 years as a college basketball analyst. Over her years as an analyst, she has won 2 Emmy Awards and has been the voice of countless memorable games. She has worked tirelessly to help start numerous in-season tournaments around the country. Antonelli has also been an enormous supporter of the Amateur Athletic Union and growing girls’ basketball in AAU. In 2021, Antonelli hosted a Q&A session and worked as the MC at the AAU 3-on-3 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament, speaking to young competitors about the game.
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be inducted on June 11, 2022. Each inductee will receive their Eastman Trophy and Baron Championship Induction Ring during the ceremony. Happening on the induction weekend, AAU will be hosting the 3-on-3 World Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee.
For more information about the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, visit their website – wbhof.com.
To learn more about the role AAU has played in the development in Women’s Basketball, read about the AAU Exhibit on display at the Hall of Fame – AAU Exhibit at WBHOF.
For more information on AAU's 3-on-3 World Championship, visit 3on3AAU.com.
ORLANDO, Fla. (February 15, 2022) – AAU Alums Becky Hammon, DeLisha Milton-Jones, and Alice “Cookie” Barron headline the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Hammon, Milton-Jones, and Barron will be joined in the Hall this year by Debbie Antonelli (Contributor/Announcer), Doug Bruno (Coach), Paul Sanderford (Coach), Bob Schneider (Coach), and Penny Taylor (International Player).
Becky Hammon played AAU Girls’ Basketball from 1992 to 1994 in Rapids City, South Dakota. She is being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her time as a player in the WNBA and at Colorado State.
Hammon played for Colorado State from 1995 to 1999 and finished her college career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. In the WNBA, Hammon became one of the best to play. She was named a six-time All-Star and was voted as one of the WNBA’s 15 greatest players of all-time in 2011. Since moving on from her playing days, Hammon became the assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, making her only the 2nd female coach in NBA History. She also became the first-ever female Head Coach in the NBA’s Summer League. Hammon is now the Head Coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
DeLisha Milton-Jones played AAU Girls’ Basketball in 1993. She is being inducted into the Hall for her playing career in the WNBA and at the University of Florida.
Milton-Jones had a storied career with the Gators as she was named the SEC Player of the Year in 1997. Milton-Jones was drafted 4th overall into the WNBA where she would go on to retire as the WNBA’s record-holder for games played. She would win WNBA championships with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 as well as bring home Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2000 and 2008. Milton-Jones is now the Head Coach for Old Dominion’s women’s basketball program.
Alice “Cookie” Barron was named to the AAU All-America team in 1957 and won 3 National AAU Championships. She is being inducted into the Hall of her remarkable success while at Wayland Baptist College.
Barron was an integral part of the Wayland Flying Queens’ success. Not only did she win 3 National AAU titles, Barron never lost a single game while at the college. An unprecedented record, Barron was undefeated with a record of 104 wins and 0 losses in her time there from 1954 to 1957. She was named Wayland’s Outstanding Woman Athlete in 1957. Since her playing career, Barron became an educator and athletics administrator and retired in 1990. Barron also contributed to the formation of the Flying Queens Alumni Association.
Debbie Antonelli, also being inducted into the Class of 2022, is a huge name not only in women’s basketball, but also in the AAU circle. She is being inducted for her contributions to women’s basketball and its overall growth.
Antonelli played college basketball at North Carolina State, but she may be better known for her 34 years as a college basketball analyst. Over her years as an analyst, she has won 2 Emmy Awards and has been the voice of countless memorable games. She has worked tirelessly to help start numerous in-season tournaments around the country. Antonelli has also been an enormous supporter of the Amateur Athletic Union and growing girls’ basketball in AAU. In 2021, Antonelli hosted a Q&A session and worked as the MC at the AAU 3-on-3 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament, speaking to young competitors about the game.
The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be inducted on June 11, 2022. Each inductee will receive their Eastman Trophy and Baron Championship Induction Ring during the ceremony. Happening on the induction weekend, AAU will be hosting the 3-on-3 World Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee.
For more information about the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, visit their website – wbhof.com.
To learn more about the role AAU has played in the development in Women’s Basketball, read about the AAU Exhibit on display at the Hall of Fame – AAU Exhibit at WBHOF.
For more information on AAU's 3-on-3 World Championship, visit 3on3AAU.com.
